Uncut: Madeline Baldwin fills hardened glasses at Lambys.
Kim Waters and Erin Pearson
GEELONG could provide an example to help Melbourne save $30,000 on a trial of shatterproof glasses in licensed venues, according to an industry spokesperson.
Geelong Nightlife Association president Darren Holroyd said venues in the city had been using the new technology for years, with promising results on “glassings”.
Mr Holroyd said his Lambys venue, on Brougham Street, adopted the hardened glass technology almost four years ago.
“We actually use at Lambys the hardened glass and if for some reason the glasses do break they just shatter and we’ve used those for around three or four years,” Mr Holroyd said.
“A number of venues around Geelong have gone to polycarbonate spirit glasses also.”
Mr Holroyd said Geelong had recorded “minimal glassings” in the past few years.
He believed that adopting the new technology was “worth the exercise” if it saved only one pub patron from a glassing.
High-risk venues in Geelong, which the state’s liquor licensing body regarded as premises operating past 1am, were predominately “more involved” in the use of the new glasses, Mr Holroyd said.
“We’re trying to lead the way and if it can be seen as a positive sign then venues are happy to give it a try.”
Geelong Mayor John Mitchell urged other venues to adopt shatterproof glasses.
“It would be a great idea to encourage even more pubs and clubs to get on board with this technology,” Cr Mitchell said.
“I’ve never heard any complaints from patrons already drinking out of these glasses, so if it’s also better for safety it’s definitely a good thing.”
Cr Mitchell supported a liquor licensing ban on glass at thousands of temporary venues and festivals during the year.
The blanket glass ban at major events such as the Big Day Out and MCG football matches was “a good idea”, he said.
“It makes so much sense, especially at open air venues, for the sake of safety. Even if it’s not about violence and its just people dropping a glass, it’s far safer for event goers and far easier to clean up if it’s shattered.”
